YORKTON – The City of Yorkton will be investing is a new music festival to launch in the summer of 2026.
Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle unveiled the plan in a verbal presentation to the most recent regular meeting of Council Nov. 17.
Kienle explained a Living Skies Music Festival was first organized as a one-day event in Humboldt, and has since grown to a two-day event, with Humboldt recently signing a deal for five more years.
“Council met with them (Living Skies Music),” said Kienle, adding the meeting included touring the Yorkton Exhibition Grounds, the expected site of the proposed Yorkton event.
Kienle said he hopes the festival will grow and be a long-time event for Yorkton “becoming a legacy event” like the recently completed Harvest Showdown which has existed for decades.
With the success in Humboldt Kienle said he wants to see it mimicked here and thus the desire for Yorkton to sign its own five-year deal.
Councillor Darcy Zaharia moved to “put it to Administration to get it signed,” a motion seconded by Coun. Greg Litvanyi.
“I think it’s going to be a great event,” offered Coun. Randy Goulden.
While no dollar figure was mentioned at the meeting where Zaharia’s motion passed unanimously, Kienle later detailed to Yorkton This Week the city investment would be a maximum of $50,000 per year. He explained the city has agreed to a “sliding scale based on attendance” which would reduce the city cost if numbers reach certain levels.
“It can shrink if it hits certain numbers,” he said.
In addition to the $50K there will be some “in-kind” contributions, added Kienle.
Kienle said while there is a cost to the city he sees a successful festival as offering much to the community including economic development and culture building.
“It brings the region to Yorkton,” he predicted, adding in the process it “will support small business.”
While the City will move to ink a deal, Kienle said that is not all that must occur for the festival to launch, noting Living Skies Music will be seeking sponsorships which are required to make the event viable.
“For this to happen there will need to be corporate sponsorship,” he said.
Kienle said as it stands they are considering one of two weekends in “late summer” of 2026 for the event if it moves forward.
